Method and preparation for reducing irritation and/or inflammatory reaction in human skin

Abstract

A method for reducing an occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin includes applying a topical preparation to the skin. The preparation includes an amount of an agent effective to reduce an occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin. The agent includes idebenone or a derivative of idebenone.

Description

[0001] Priority is claimed to provisional application 60 / 544,359, filed Feb. 13, 2004.[0002] The present invention in general relates to human skin, and in particular relates to reduction of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin. BACKGROUND [0003] A wide variety of compounds are formulated into cosmetics to, inter alia, improve the appearance of the skin, to beautify the skin, to treat skin conditions, or to render the skin less dry or more supple. Unfortunately, certain of these compounds may cause irritation and / or inflammatory reactions when they are topically applied onto the skin or mucous membranes. [0004] It is known to this art to administer salicylic acid derivatives as keratolytic agents for treating acne; these are also useful anti-aging agents in cosmetic and / or dermatological compositions. Thus, FR-A-2,581,542 and EP-A-378,936 describe such salicylic acid compounds. [0005] Salicylic acid derivatives are of great value, given their biological effects on t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for reducing an occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin.

[0019] The present invention also provides a method for reducing an occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin. The method includes:

[0021] applying a topical preparation to the skin, the preparation comprising an amount of an agent effective to reduce the occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin, the agent comprising idebenone or a derivative of idebenone.

[0024] providing an information indicative of a reduced potential for occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin due to a potential skin irritant through applying of the skin care product to human skin.

[0025] The present invention also provides a topical preparation for reducing an occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin due to an exfoliant applied to the skin. The topical preparation includes at least one exfoliant, and an amount of idebenone or a derivative of idebenone effective to reduce an occurrence of irritation and / or inflammatory reaction in human skin related to the exfoliant.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, certain of these compounds may cause irritation and / or inflammatory reactions when they are topically applied onto the skin or mucous membranes.

However, administration of these derivatives presents a problem since they can cause stinging, itching and tautness after they have been applied, which may result in considerable discomfort.

It is also widely described that some users of cosmetic products comprising surfactants, preservatives, fragrances, solvents or propellants complain that their skin is irritated after applying one or more of the above substrates thereto.

However, because of their irritant nature, these products are generally employed at very low doses.

Formulation of these products in small amounts may, therefore, prove to be relatively disadvantageous with respect to administration of other active species which are less active, but which are formulated in greater amounts since they are less or not irritant.

It is also known to this art that the skin of certain individuals is irritated when it has been exposed to a specific or unusual chemical or physical environment, in particular when it is exposed to considerable variations in temperature, to wind or to a very polluted environment.

Thus, the skin may react with itching, tautness or stinging.

In addition to chemicals which directly trigger skin irritation, some chemicals indirectly cause the skin to become more sensitive to other chemicals or environmental conditions which would not normally cause irritation.

Moreover, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is known to provide a variety of undesirable effects such as photoaging and photodamage of the skin, including skin inflammation and irritation.

Cosmetic and / or medical procedures are also known to cause an inflammatory state in the skin.

Thus, the inflammatory skin state and / or irritation may be characterized by stinging, itching or tautness, which too may cause considerable discomfort.

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